West Palm Beach Slip & Fall Lawyer: Chevron Speed-Bump Trip Hazards on Southern Blvd — Who Is Liable?

Did you trip and fall on a speed bump at a Chevron gas station on Southern Boulevard in West Palm Beach? Slip and fall accidents at gas station parking lots are more common than most people realize. Florida law holds property owners and business operators responsible for hazards on their premises. A West Palm Beach slip and fall lawyer can review your situation and explain your legal options at no cost.

Gas stations like Chevron have busy, high-traffic lots where pedestrians and vehicles share space. This creates real slip and fall risk. Speed bumps in these lots become trip hazards when:

• Paint or reflective marking on the speed bump has faded and is hard to see
• The speed bump edge is cracked, raised, or uneven
• The speed bump is placed near fuel pump islands where pedestrians walk
• Lighting around the speed bump is poor at night
• The speed bump blends in with the surrounding asphalt in color and texture
• No warning signs or yellow paint alert pedestrians to the elevated surface

Under Florida Statute § 768.0710, property owners must keep their premises safe and warn guests of known hazards. A poorly maintained or unmarked speed bump is a known hazard. Failure to fix or mark it is negligence.

What you do right after the fall can make or break your claim.

1. Report the incident to the station attendant or manager. Ask for a written incident report and keep a copy.
2. Take photographs of the speed bump, the surrounding ground, any missing paint or markings, and the lighting in the area.
3. Look for witnesses. Ask customers or employees for their names and contact information.
4. Seek medical attention the same day. Knee, ankle, hip, and wrist injuries may not feel serious immediately but can worsen.
5. Save the shoes and clothing you wore. They may serve as evidence.
6. Do not speak to the gas station's insurance company before calling a West Palm Beach slip and fall lawyer.

Liability in a Chevron gas station fall may rest with more than one party:

• The franchisee or station operator — who controls day-to-day maintenance
• The property owner — who may be separate from the operator
• A maintenance contractor — if they were responsible for the parking lot and upkeep
• Chevron corporate — in some cases the franchisor may share liability

Finding all liable parties matters — it affects the total insurance coverage for your claim. A West Palm Beach personal injury attorney at Wolfson & Leon can identify every responsible party. Visit the premises liability page to learn more about how these claims work.

Proving notice of a hazard is key in a Florida premises liability claim. For outdoor hazards like speed bumps, your attorney should look for:

• Photos showing visible fading, cracking, or disrepair over time
• Prior incidents or complaints at the same location — customer reviews or prior incident reports
• Maintenance logs showing infrequent or skipped inspections of the parking lot
• Testimony from employees who were aware of the faded markings or damage
• Expert testimony about industry standards for speed bump maintenance and visibility

Evidence disappears fast. Your lawyer can take several steps right away:

• Send a written preservation demand to the station operator, property owner, and Chevron corporate legal
• Request all security camera footage covering the fall area for at least two hours before and after the incident
• Request incident logs, maintenance records, and prior complaint files
• Have a professional document the scene with measurements and photos before any repairs are made

If the station repairs or repaints the speed bump after your fall — before a preservation demand is made — it does not necessarily destroy your claim. Evidence from before the repair, combined with your own documentation, can still support your case.

See a doctor the same day as your fall, even if pain is minor at first. Trip-and-fall injuries on uneven surfaces often cause:

• Ankle sprains or fractures
• Knee injuries including torn cartilage or ligament tears
• Wrist fractures from bracing for the fall
• Hip fractures — especially in older adults
• Shoulder injuries from landing on an extended arm
• Head injuries and concussion from forward falls

Tell your doctor exactly what happened. Keep every record, bill, and prescription. Missing or delaying medical appointments gives insurance adjusters grounds to argue your injuries were not caused by the fall.

Bone density plays a significant role in how badly a person is injured in a trip-and-fall. This is especially true at gas stations and outdoor surfaces where falls are unpredictable.

The National Institutes of Health says about 10 million Americans have osteoporosis. Another 44 million have low bone density. When someone with weak bones trips and falls, the result can be a hip, wrist, vertebra, or shoulder fracture that would not occur in a healthier person.

Florida's "eggshell plaintiff" rule says defendants must take plaintiffs as they find them. If Chevron's negligence caused your fall, they are liable for all your injuries — including those made worse by weak bones. Low bone density does not reduce the station's fault.

If you have been told by a doctor that you have osteoporosis, osteopenia, or low bone density, make sure your treating physician documents this and explains how your condition made your fall injuries worse.

If negligence caused your trip-and-fall at the Chevron on Southern Blvd, you may be able to recover:

• Medical bills — emergency care, surgery, imaging, physical therapy, ongoing treatment
• Future medical costs if the injury requires long-term care
• Lost wages if you missed work during recovery
• Loss of earning capacity if the injury permanently affects your ability to work
• Pain and suffering — physical and emotional
• Permanent disability or disfigurement
• Home care and assistance costs during recovery

Under Florida Statute § 768.81, your recovery may be reduced if you were partly at fault. But you can still collect as long as you are less than 51% responsible.

Gas station operators and their insurers know how to fight these claims. They often argue the hazard was obvious or the person was not watching. An experienced West Palm Beach car accident lawyer at Wolfson & Leon can counter these arguments with facts and evidence.

Wolfson & Leon can:

• Preserve evidence and investigate the scene quickly
• Send preservation demands before video and records are deleted
• Identify all liable parties and their insurers
• Calculate the full value of your damages
• Negotiate with the insurance company on your behalf
• File a lawsuit if needed to protect your rights

Consultations are free. You pay nothing unless the firm recovers for you. Call a West Palm Beach car accident lawyer today at (305) 285-1115. The firm also handles car accident cases — see the car accident page for more.

Prepare the following before your meeting:

• Photos or video from the scene
• A copy of the incident report if you obtained one
• All medical bills and records from treatment so far
• The contact information of any witnesses
• The footwear you wore that day
• A written summary of what happened while it is still fresh

• Florida Statute § 768.0710 — Duty of care
• Florida Statute § 95.11(3)(a) — Statute of limitations
• Florida Statute § 768.81 — Comparative fault
• NIH — Osteoporosis overview
• Wolfson & Leon — Premises Liability
• Wolfson & Leon — Car Accidents
• Wolfson & Leon — Serious Injury
• Miami Personal Injury Attorney Blog

Since 1963, Jerome Wolfson, Esq. and the team at Wolfson & Leon have proudly served accident victims across Florida:

• Miami
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• Jacksonville
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• West Palm Beach
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Let us help you get back on the road to recovery. Call (305) 285-1115 today. Our team will handle your case with the personal care and attention you deserve.